Our therapy team have worked alongside our waste management team to start a recycling initiative, which makes it easier for patients to drop off mobility aids they no longer need.

You may have already noticed two large bins have recently appeared in the main entrances at both HRI and CRH. These are our new walking aid drop-off points, where mobility aids that are no longer needed, such as zimmer frames, walking sticks and crutches can be dropped off by patients.

Daily collections by the inpatient therapy teams will take place. After returned items have been collected, they will be cleaned ready to be reissued to other patients. 

Colleagues can also use the drop-off points if you notice spare mobility aids lying around. The drop-off points are up and running now and can be used any time.

Therapy Services Manager, Sally Grose, said: "We are very aware of how inconvenient it is to have unused mobility aids at home so are looking at a range of ways to be able to return them to be reused. It has been great working with the waste team to look at ways we can support visitors to return their mobility aids, as well as provide a central drop-off point for other colleagues to enable us to reuse this equipment and prevent it going to waste, helping the environment and our patients."

Pictured left to right are rehab assistants Zach Watson, Megan Dyer and Alice Bradley.